Interview w/ Missionary; Nelia Taraski

Some of  you may know my friend Nelia Taraski. For those of you who do not know her, I will share a little background information. She was born Nelia Raquel Pena on February 5, 1970 in Monterrey Mexico. She lived a happy life with her parents and 9 brothers and sisters.

When Nelia was a small child, a lady came from the the states as a missionary. This lady, Sister Elma Voht had a great impact on Nelia and her family. Sister Elma would go into the neighborhood where Nelia lived, carrying milk, cookies and God's Word. She would gather the children together and tell them stories and ask them questions about what they had learned.

Nelia heard the same stories you and I heard as children. They were stories of the same God we serve. When Nelia was ten years old, Sister Elma had the joy of leading Nelia to Christ.

I asked Nelia if there was an immediate change in her life. She  said, "No, it came little by little." She goes on to say that "...from the beginning I knew I wanted to serve God. Each day became more meaningful." She then began to help Sister Elma, not only in her own neighborhood but in other neighborhoods as well.

What is a Missionary?

Had we watched this lady missionary to Mexico, walking the streets of Nelia's neighborhood, we probably would not have thought she was doing much.

Sister Elma died here in the states about a year ago. She was surrounded by her relatives. The legacy and the family she left behind is greater than a room full of blood relatives.

The legacy, the family, her life's passion are demonstrated in a little convert named Nelia.  A child who started her christian walk following the example of this godly woman. Not without bumps and bruises, Nelia believed God's call and leading in her life.

Obediently she helped Sister Elma in the very streets she played. She became an asset in her local body of believers by serving where ever she was needed. That leading  eventually brought Nelia to the states. Even in this strange place, surrounded by strange faces, she heard and was obedient to God's call.

She is a missionary to her husband and children. She is a missionary in the church, work and community. Nelia is a missionary in her husbands ministry. Nelia is a missionary to her friends.

In an age when it's all about me, and creating mini me's. Nelia is still about her relationship with God and serving Him.

Lest you think Sister Elma's legacy ended in Nelia, let me telia!

In that little community where she grew up, there is a church. When Sister Elma left to return to the states a few years ago, the church gathered to say their good-byes. The building was packed to over flowing. The Pastor asked those who were present that had been directly or indirectly affected by the ministry of Sister Elma to stand. Gods house, overflowing with over one hundred well wishers, stood in unison. None remained sitting.

Nelia and her community could not have done better in choosing Sister Elma to emulate.

So in a world of mini me's, you and I would do well to emulate Nelia, who emulated Elma, who emulated someone, who emulated Paul, who emulated Christ.

Join me next week to read more about Nelia Taraski, Missionary for Christ!

Yes I am late with this installment! I am so sorry. Starting a new job and staying on my time with the Lord among other things is stretching my time management skills. I promise to do better.

It was a week or so before I was able to speak with Nelia again about this article. I decided to return to her salvation experience as a child. I wanted to know if any of her siblings were saved at the same time.

"I don't recall who was saved first, but Vickie, Juanie, Alma, and Rosa were all saved about the same time. The only other one who helped Sister Elma was Juanie. She is older than I am and so she helped with the crafts. But, she only helped when we stayed in our neighborhood. She didn't go when we went into other neighborhoods." Then Nelia surprised me as she said, " I remember feeling like Jonah." Seeing the surprise on my face she quickly explained, "The kids that were mean to us, I didn't want them to get saved. I didn't want them to have salvation." She seemed embarassed by the admission.

"Did Sister Elma understand how you felt?" I asked.

"I don't think so." she looked perplexed as she relived the emotions of those early days. As we talked I could see that even as a child Nelia understood that those feeling were not pleasing to God. She was ashamed so she couldn't tell her hero who loved her so unconditionally. She had to deal with those feeling alone.

"I only recall telling Sister Elma  to be careful because 'those kids' were mean. Then the next thing I recall is all of us (the mean kids too) fellowshiping together."

"So was the Jonah experience a positive or negative in your christian growth?"

"Positive? Oh definitely. I came to understand that salvation is really for everybody. It motivated me to begin sharing with everyone about Jesus." Nelia went on to tell me about returning to Mexico for her youngest sister's wedding and running into a cousin. She asked Nelia, " Do you remember telling me about Jesus? Do you still believe that?" She went on to tell Nelia that she recalled how excited she was about "it". It opened another door to witness to this cousin about Jesus so many years later.

"So then those early days with Sister Elma prepared you for the misnistry you now have with your husband?" It was more of a statement than a question.

"Yes, " She looked so serious. Those days set a foundation and taught me alot."

So what about your study habits?" I asked changing things up a little. "When did you get serious about studying God's Word?

"Immediately. I fell in love with the old testament. I think, I really fell in love with David. I remember thinking, 'This guy is something else.'"

"What was it that attracted you to him?" I asked admitting that I too, was probably in love with the Shepherd King.

" His heart. He really loved, passionately loved God. You know," she continued unprompted. "I am a slow reader. If I don't understand something, I go back 3 or 4 chapters and read it through until I understand it. It took me a long time, but when I finally got to David's failure, I cried!" she said mournfully. "How could someone with God's heart do such a thing? I cried and cried. I was in the pits. I couldn't comprehend it. I went to Pastor and asked how can it be?"

I could hear the trauma in Nelia's voice. "How could someone do that? I felt like he had done it against me."

"What did your Pastor tell you?" I asked.

"He told me it isn't about what David could do or not do, but about how great God's love and grace is. No matter how great our sin, God's love is greater still and can deliver us. Even Me! When I fall, He is gracious to forgive even me."

"Nelia," I continued probing. "What most in life dismays you?"

Without batting an eye she answered, "Betrayal."

"Have you ever betrayed someone?"

"Yes." she said sadly.

"How did you deal with your own betrayal of another?"

Sqinching her face up in a knot she said, " I think the last person I betrayed was Vivian Guererro. I have tried so many times to find her and ask her forgiveness. I just can't find her. I have asked and recieved God's forgiveness."

As I listened to Nelia that day I realized that the theme seemed to be that we are imperfect beings for sure. The fact that we are imperfect is not a reason to not be useful in the Kingdom. Like Nelia, and Jonah, and yes, David too, there were many in the bible who failed, who sinned against God. But these people continued to be useful to God and the furtherance of the gospel. Last week I asked "What is a Missionary?" Well there is one thing for sure. A Missionary is not a perfect individual. They struggle with the same issues as you and I. From our sin nature to fiancial struggles, child rearing, education, marriage issues, home repair, etc... So let me urge you today to remember and support at least one missionary family through your prayers, through your gifts and offering, etc...

Or maybe you have felt the call of the mission field and you keep putting it off thinking you have to get better at your walk. Maybe today you realized you will always in this life be a fallible human being and God wants you just as you are. He definitely knows how to clean you up.